Vaccination rates for the flu, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are low for adults in the U.S. so far this season, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
As of Nov. 9, an estimated 35% of U.S.
adults had gotten the new flu vaccine, and nearly 18% had received the new Covid vaccines, CDC data shows. However, the agency noted that many unvaccinated adults reported that they intend to get their shots. “There is still time to get vaccinated,” the report said.
The vaccination rate for the flu as of October was roughly equivalent to the same time last year, the CDC found. By the end of 2023, nearly 44% of Americans were estimated to have gotten a flu shot . The rate of Covid vaccination is also similar to last November, around 15% .
The CDC has recommended flu and Covid shots for everyone 6 months and older. The findings come amid rising vaccine hesitancy in the U.S.
, and a week after President-elect Donald Trump named Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine activist, as his pick for health and human services secretary .
Pediatricians have expressed grave concerns about Kennedy's expected nomination, predicting that the decision-making power he would have over vaccines could accelerate the number of parents who reject the shots for their kids and consequently lead to deadly outbreaks. The new CDC report warns that flu, Covid and RSV can cause serious illness, particularly for people ages 65 and up and those with cer.